Page 34 of Stripping Keys
I’m not sure, but the look on her face seems like she really hopes we can.
“We could try,” I manage to say, though I wasn’t sure if it would work.
Marley smiles and reaches a hand out to me. “That would be great if we could try. Because though we’ll try as friends, I’d likefor your niece or nephew to be able to have you and me not at each other’s throats when they get here.”
“Ugh, what?” Did Marley tell me I was going to be an aunt?
“You heard me.” Her smile grows bigger.
“Holy shit,” Storm squeals. “You’re pregnant?”
Marley nods.
“This is great,” Meadow says. “We’ll be preggers together.”
Marley laughs and looks to me. “So, friends?”
I nod, unable to speak as something comes over me, and I do something I’ve never in my life done before. I step toward Marley and wrap my arms around her, hugging her to me. “Congrats, Marley. You’ll make a great mom to this kid, and I promise to be a better aunt than I am a sister.”
This day has been nothing but weird with all that’s been revealed to me. What could possibly happen next that could rock my world more?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
KEYS
“What’s with the strange look on your face?” I ask, watching Marla closely as we eat the pizza I ordered. It’s not the cardboard type you get from the franchise places. No, it was real pizza from a local joint in town. They’ve got some of the best I’ve ever eaten in my life.
“What look?” Marla asks and takes another bite of her slice. Cheese stretches from her mouth to the slice she pulls away. Pinching the cheese, she throws her head back and allows the rest of it to fall into her mouth before straightening and smiling at me. “I love pizza.”
“I can tell.,” I grin. My cock even took notice of the way she’s with pizza.
When it comes to food, Marla doesn’t hide behind anything when it comes to eating. I’d seen it a lot the past few days, and I like that a lot about her.
Marla smiles and shakes her head as she chews.
“You’ve had a strange look since you talked with Storm and Meadow. Everything okay? I saw Marley go in there as well.”
Marla clears her throat and loses the smile, though the shimmering in her eyes stays. “She asked me if we could be friends. Said we suck at siblings.”
“And?” I didn’t know if that was even possible, but it would be good for them to be able to get along.
“I agreed we sucked as siblings and that we could try and be friends,” she answers and takes a moment to eat another bite before she continues. “She’s pregnant.”
“Yeah?” I hadn’t heard the news. Griz and Marley must be keeping it quiet for the time being.
“Yeah, I told her I’d be a better aunt than I was a sister.”
“You’ll be a great aunt,” I tell her, knowing it’ll be true. Just as I know that . . .
Hold that thought right there. No way am I going down that road. No way am I having kids. She’s protected, on birth control. I won’t get her knocked up.
“Do you ever think of having kids?” Marla’s question throws me for a loop.
Getting up, I shake my head. “No.” I throw my trash away in the can next to my desk and head for the door. “I’ll be back. I’m not gonna lock the door, but stay in here.”
I don’t know why that question flips me out as it does. Maybe it’s because it came as I was also thinking . . .
Fuck.
